SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell has been recorded claiming the DUP do not want to work with Catholics.

The party leader also slammed Sinn Fein and said they "can't tell the truth" about the IRA.

His comments were taped by the North Belfast News as he opened his party's new office in Glengormley , County Antrim.

He said DUP members "don't want a taig about the place" at Stormont and blamed the DUP and Sinn Féin for the crisis.

He said: "The DUP don't want partnership - they don't want a taig about the place. I'm sorry, it's as brutal as that.

"I'm not divisive, I don't like to be like that but they, at times, they've made it very clear to us they don't support the Good Friday Agreement, they don't support a lot of the changes that have taken place."

Dr McDonnell added: Sinn Fein can't tell the truth. They just can't tell the truth, and they can tell us whatever they like and you've examples like Gerry Adams was never in the IRA and you've examples like Martin McGuinness saying this, that and the other thing. They're not telling the truth.

"We fully support the chief constable when he discussed publicly in a press conference the murder of Kevin McGuigan. We know who killed Kevin McGuigan. And we know there are people out there associated with, connected with or involved in some way - that basically were involved in helping and supporting the murder of Kevin McGuigan."

In a statement in response to the recording, he said the DUP's Arlene Foster had recently shown a "lack of respect" for nationalists, referring to her initial public remarks as she took over as acting first minister of Northern Ireland.

She described nationalist and republican ministers as "rogues" and "renegades" who would damage the unionist community.

He said: "When the acting first minister makes a point in her first televised interview upon appointment of describing nationalist ministers as 'rogues' and 'renegades', the lack of respect for nationalists is made very clear."

Responding to Dr McDonnell's accusations, Mrs Foster has described his remarks as "utter rubbish".

She told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme she was disappointed by his use of "pejorative language".

"The brutal murders of both Gerard Davison and Kevin McGuigan have been exploited by the Unionist parties for their own internal electoral intentions and Alasdair McDonnell’s scurrilous allegations are clearly an attempt to move the SDLP onto the same ground to score cheap political points," he said.

"Sinn Féin has repeatedly challenged the SDLP to either put up or shut up and if Alasdair McDonnell or any other member of the SDLP has any information on the murders of Gerard Davison or Kevin McGuigan then they should bring that to the police.”